Cornish Scrumpy Co Ltd (CSCL), the maker of Rattler cider, is to receive £588,000 from the Shared Prosperity Fund to create an 850kw solar farm. This will provide power for its business operations as part of ambitions to migrate to 100% renewable energy over the next five years.
The family-run business, near Newquay, already generates 18% of its energy from an on-site wind turbine. The addition of the new solar farm will increase its renewable generation capacity to 75%. Five acres of unused land will be transformed to provide the infrastructure for the new solar farm.
The Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) grant, which is subject to the solar farm project obtaining planning permission, will support investment into renewable energy and allow CSCL to take advantage of new market opportunities, increase competitiveness, recruit two additional employees, and safeguard ten roles over the next three years.
“As a second generation, proudly independent Cornish family, it is our ambition to celebrate 100 years of business,” said Joe Healey, managing director, trading, at CSCL. “Sustainability is, therefore, at the heart of everything we do. Having recently completed a large expansion of our processing facility here on the farm, this solar project, part-funded by SPF, will reduce our onsite CO2 emissions by around 170 tonnes a year.
“Together with our existing turbine, we should be able to generate around 75% of the energy we need to operate. Combining this with the 1,500 trees we planted in January 2023, and our new rainwater harvesting system on our roof and apple bays (when not being used for pressing), 2023 will be a transformational year in our journey towards achieving our long-term sustainability goals.”
